Price sign



p 9 1932- R. L. SCHWARTZ ET AL 1,877,326

PRICE SIGN Filed April 4. 1950 a Sheets-Sheet 1 III. IIIIIII It! I vduiu wmw r I I I l I I I I l I I l I I I ll lllu ull llllll km mm 11am Paw] Ma /r main 1 Sept. 13, 1932. R. 1.. SCHWARTZ ET AL PRICE SIGN Filed Ap ril 4, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuchtozs Rudol h L. Srharlz a/na m'llz'am P ul Martin an my p 1 1932 R. L. scHwARTz ET AL. 1,877,326

PRICE SIGN Filed April 4,1950 5 Shee ts-Sheet s gwventoos nfo I. Schwartz 1% Paul Marl and M12 dlitozmq Patented Sept. 13, 1932 NITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE RUDOLPH L. SCHWARTZ AND WILLIAM PAUL MARTIN, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AS-

SIGNORS TO MARTIN & SCHWARTZ, INCL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK PRICE SIGN Application filed April .4,

This invention relates to price signs, and it has particular reference to the provision of a durable structure adapted to display a plurality of price or character indicia in order to advise a prospective purchaser of a commodity of the nature of the article with which the sign is associated.

More particularly, the invention aims at the provision of a sign construction which may be associated with a gasoline dispensing pump, in order to indicate the unit and multiple prices charged for any given quantity of gasoline. The sign is so constructed as to permit of the display of any desired sets of values, to meet the demands of variations in the market price, and it is structurally adapted to protect the number or price bearing cards from the efiects of the weather, while at the same time permitting the numbers to be viewed at a glance.

In speaking of price signs for gasoline, it will be understood that the example is selected as illustrative of the applicability of the invention, and it will further be understood that the sign may be advantageously used in connection with other commodities, but particularly those which are sold in outdoor markets, and those which are sold motorists, who, as a class, are usually impatient at any delay in culminating a purchase, and who are apt not to be interested in purchasing commodities which are not displayed in such fashion as to appeal quickly to the eye.

Heretofore, it has been customary for gasoline station attendants or roadside merchants to display the nature and price of their commodities on boards bearing an erasable notation of the price, and to mark up the price of the article from day to day. Such markings, of course, are quickly obliterated by sudden rainstorms or the like. Again, it has been proposed to fashion price numerals from metal, and to hang these numbers on frames,

but the difiiculties in changing such numbers and their costs have worked against their universal adoption, and they have had little in the way of attractiveness to ofi'set these objections.

In the present invention, we have attempted to overcome these and other objec' 1930. Serial Nb. 441,538.

are positioned windows, such as panes of glass, so that price cards interposed between the Windows may be viewed from either side of the structure, or from both sides. One side of the frame is so constructed as to be detachable or removable, so that the cards may be removed or re-arranged, and the frame may further be so constructed that the windows are somewhat spaced from the cards, to facilitate their insertion or removal, and to assist in preventing the cards from becoming rain-soaked and illegible from this cause, or from steaming or fogging. The principles of the invention are subect to numerous embodiments, each of which indicates further advantages, and hence the invention will now be explained by reference to certain typical structural forms, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is an elevation showing the price sign applied to a gasoline pump.

Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal section through one top end of the sign.

Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section through the opposite end of the sign.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the cover.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of another variation of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates generally a rectilinear housing which comprises a built-up frame-like structure having notches at their upper extremities.

vertical stiles 3 and 4 of channel-like shape in cross section, and containing arcuate The upper ends of the stiles are connected by the rails 6 and 7 which are welded to the ears 8 and 9 respectively, thereof, and the lower ends are connected to the lower rails 10 and 11. A large aperture 12 is thus formed centrally of the portion described and comprises a display window. The portion of the rails and stiles bordering said aperture are preferably bent inwardly at 13. The lower portion of the housing thus formed receives a bottom member 14 having depending flange portions 15 which are welded to lower rails and stiles and 4 to connect the same.

The flat portion 15 of the bottom member is arranged immediately beneath said aperture 12 and an upturned channel member 16 is welded thereto longitudinally and centrally thereof. Glass holders or guides 17 are welded within the housing on the opposite legs of the stiles immediately adjacent the aperture 12, and are spaced from the outside walls of the housing to align with 'the flanges of the channel member 16.

The open side 18 of the housing may be closed against the elements in any suitable manner such as by a cover 19 having a depending flange portion 20 adapted to be slidably engaged over the open side of the housing. The depending flange portion at one end of said cover carries an integral inturned lip 21 adapted to enter into the slot 22 which is struck out of the stile 3. The lip extends through the slot and into the interior of the frame for reasons hereinafter set forth. The other end of the de pending portion contains an attached spring clip 23 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the top of the cover and has a spring portion depending therefrom. This portion of the spring clip is provided with an aperture 25 at its extremity, which is adapted in assembly to register with and enter over the stud 26 which is riveted to the stile 4. This type of cover is easily removed when thus assembled by raising the end of the spring clip out of engagement with said stud and then swinging the cover appr0ximately thirty degrees with an accompanying rearward thrust to disengage the lip 21 from the slot 22.

Transparent window portions 27 are adapted to be inserted in the guides 17 and to be slid downwardly therein to bottom on the base portion 15" between the bent portion 13 of the lower stile and the side of the flange of the channel member 16. The transparent window portions are thus retained in the housing on three sides, on its sides by guides 17, and bottom by sides of the channel member 16 against the bent portion 13 on the inner side of the housing.

The cards 28 in the present embodiment i are of suflicient size to enter in the housing between the stiles 3 and 4, and are adapted to be mounted and retained between the guides 17 at opposite sides of the stiles and are similarly retained at their bottom edges 1" by the vertical legs of the channel member 16. These members comprise the lateral guide means for the cards. The cards are maintained longitudinally by being loosely received between the inner walls of the opposing stiles 3 and 4 through the open sides of the housing. Upon the application of the cover on the housing, the lip 21, in ex tending into the housing, engages the cards at one margin and moves the entire group toward theopposite'stile, which results in the alignment and retention thereof in proper position relative the window portions 27.

The cards illustrated in'Fig. 1 may be subdivided into suitable column form such as disclosed at 29 which comprises a column showing prices per gallon of gasoline for any number of gallons from two to fifteen. This column is preferably separated from the larger portion of the card by the provision of a vertical aperture dividing member 30 which is connected between the upper and lower rails and which also have inwardly rounded portions, for the purposes heretofore described. It is preferred that the cards be inserted within the housing so that cards inserted on opposite sides of the housing adja-.

so that a complete set of cards will include a 1 number of pairs of cards having the proper display matter preferably in the formof column information reading from right to left to enter or be displayed adjacent opposite sides of said housing. The guides thus both retain the window portions 27 in position and form the walls of a card magazine spaced from said window portions.

The present invention also comprehends the use of separate cards to substitute for the column form of single card hitherto described; The structure for retaining cards of plural number in a housing of the type previously described is shown in Fig. 8, in which the channel member 16 is eliminated therefrom and is substituted for by a frame-like holder member 30 which is channel-shaped in cross section and has a bottom portion 31 and upwardly extending said portions 32. The legs or flanges of the channel portions of these members are inwardly turned to form a central chamber or magazine and the bottom 31 thereof is welded to the base portion 15. Any number of such members 30 may be inserted within the housing according to condition and number of columns necessary to display the proper information. This arrangement thus divides the inside of the housing to three compartments or magazines of which the outer compartments 33 are formed by the portions 32 of the members 30 and-the inner wall of the stile 3 and is defined in width by the transparent windows and accompanyingglass guides 17. The middle magazine 34 is formed by the channel-like bottom and side walls thereof.

The latter embodiment of the price sign is adapted to receive groups of cards of the proper Width in each of its compartments 33 and 34 in a manner similar to the preferred form of the invention. These cards are also removable through the open sides and are displayed on both sides through transparent windows 27. As the partitions in this device are symmetrical, the sign will not read from left to right in the same manner as in the preferred form. However, a single card having printed matter on both sides may be inserted in this structure and a single card thereby may substitute for the use of two cards on the previously defined structure. Thus, the second form of invention as shown in Fig. 8 may be used as a magazine container for displaying cards of the same type on opposite sides of groups of cards through the transparent windows 27, or may be used as a container for a single card containing displayed information on either side thereof.

The housing 1 may be mounted in any en-' Vironment depending upon its use in any suitable manner. Fig. 4 shows the assembled sign attached to a gasoline pump. For such use the stile 3 is embraced by the attaching clips 36 which are welded to the sides of said stile and have extending longitudinal flanges 37 which may contain holes 38 or the like attachable to any suitable clamping means on the ump.

What is claimed is 1. In a card holding sign, a rectilinear frame having an open edge, side walls on said frame having apertures, spaced transparent panes in said frame covering the apertures in the side walls, a holder member having a pair of spaced rail members, spaced flange members on each rail member, said flange members on the opposite rail members extending toward each other, said holder member positioned within said frame with the rail members extending toward said open edgeand with the flanges of each in contacting relation with the transparent panes, and cards inserted in said frame through said open ed e, retained between the opposite rails of t e holder and spaced from the panes by the flanges thereof.

2. In a card holding sign, a rectilinear frame having an open edge, side walls on said frame having apertures, spaced transparent panes in said frame covering the apertures in the side walls, a one-piece holder member having a base portion secured within said frame opposite said open edge and having spaced and opposed channel shaped rails extending there-from between said panes, said holder being adapted to receive cards inserted through the open edge of the frame between its opposed rails.

3. In a card holding sign, a rectilinea frame having an open edge, side walls on said frame having apertures, spaced transparent panes in said frame covering the apertures in the side walls, a holder comprising a frame member positioned within said frame, said frame member having an open edge opening toward the open edge of the frame, and inturned spaced marginal flanges extending around said frame member in contacting relation with said panes, said holder being adapted to receive cards inserted through the open edge of the frame. 4

4. In a card holding sign, a rectilinear frame having side Walls, a bottom wall and an open top, an aperture in each of two opposing side walls, transparent panes in said frame covering the aperture in each of the perforate side walls, a holder comprising a rectilinear frame-like member secured within said frame to said bottom wall, said framelike member having an open edge opening toward the open edge of the frame forming a card receiving magazine between its sides, inturned spaced marginal card retaining flanges extending around said frame-like member in contacting relation with said panes, each side of the frame member being spaced from the adjacent imperforate side wall and forming card receiving magazines therebetween.

5. In a card holding sign, a rectilinear frame having side walls, a bottom wall and an open top, an aperture in each of two. op-

tively narrow inwardly extending flanges to form openings in the respective side walls'of said casing, bars connecting the flanges of said end members at the tops thereof and spaced apart to provide said casing with an open top, transparent panels supported within said casing to close the openings in the respective side walls thereof, means for holding said panels in engagement with said channels, an inner frame supported between said panels, said inner frame having an open top and channel-shaped end walls to removably support price cards adjacent to but out of contact with said panels, and a removable closure tightly closing the open top of said outer casin RUDOLPH L. SCHWARTZ. WILLIAM PAUL MARTIN. 

